Ignition cut-out and transmission-lock.



I 1. H1 SPARKS'.I IGNITION 4CUT.-Ol.|`l AND` TRANSMISSION LOCK. AV'PPLICTION FILED PK. 30| 19I3.

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IGNIUON CU-OUT AND TRANSIISSSON LUCK.

Fatemi Aug, vi4, 1917?.

APPLICATIOI FILED AFI. 30| H13- L. HjsPIIIms` IGNITION CUT-.GUI AND TRANSMISSION LOCK.

APPLICATION FILED APILSI), 1913 J 4 Patented Aug. 14, 1917.

` UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

LESTER H. SPARKS, 0F LAKEWOOD, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR T0 JENNE I. MILLER, OF LAKEWOOD, NEW JERSEY.

IGNITION CUT-OUT AND TRANSMISSION-LUCK.

Specification of Letters Patent. 'Patented Aug, 14, 1917.

application and apra saisis. serial No. 764,632.

To all whom it 'may concern:

Be it known that I, Las'raa H. SPARKS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Lakewood, in the county of Ocean, State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and4 useful Improvements in Ignition CutOiits and Transmission-Dicks; and I dohereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same. 4

This invention relates to internal combus tion engines and especially to a device for controlling the operation of such engines.

Specially the invention relates to a device arranged to cut out or in the ignition, gear shiftin mechanism and lighting systemof automo ile and boat motors at predetermined times.

One ob'ect of theinvention is to provide a novel an improved device of the character set forth and for the purpose specified.

A secondobject of the invention is to pro vide an improved time controlled switch for controlling`tlie operation of such a device.

A third object of the invention is to provide an improved electrically ,controlled switch for closingl and opciiingcerta'in circuits in a device of the kind described.-

A fourth object of the invention is toprovide an improved controlling device for use with such a switch.

A fifth object of the invention is to provide an improved electrically controlled lock for holding the gear-'shifting mechanis'm common in such motors for movement into operative positicii.

With the above and other objects in view the invention consists. in general of certain novel details of construction and combination of parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and specifically claimed,

In the acconipanyin drawings, like characters of reference indicate like parts in the several views, and y Figure 1 is a plan view of an apparatus constructed in accordance with this inve`n tion, the casing being shown open and with. the top partly broken away and in section. L

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the device, the casing being in section to better disclose the interior.

Fig. '3 is a section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a'section on the line 4-4 oflFig: 2, certain parts being shown iii one position.

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 4 with the parts in another position.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged detail section on the line 6 6 of Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is a section through a transmission gear case showing the locking device applied to the transmission controlling mechanism.

Fig. 8 is a section on the line 8-8 of 9 is an enlarged detail of the lock. Fig. 10 is an enlarged detail of the setting pawl for the time mechanisms.

by means of a suitable lock 23 which is of some one of the well-known types which are practically -proof against picking.

Vithin the casing is located the time device and the switch controlled thereby so that these Idevices cannot be tampered with by an unauthorized erson.

The timing device is actuated by any suitable clock movement located within a case 2+ situated at one end of the casing 20. This clock movement is not deemed necessary t0 belieieiii shown as its specific features form no part of the invention. and it is to be understood as represented typically by the casejll'.; The clock movement is provided with the arbor 25arranged to rotate twice every hour and on this arbor is fixedV a ion 26. Spaced on opposite sides of the arbor 25 are arbors 27 secured to the upper part of the case 24. On the arbors 27 are pini 12 midnight and the other set the hours from 1 a. m. to noon, the two sets being distinguished by differences in color or in any desired manner. cessive hour markings are suitably divided to indicate fractions of an hour, here shown as quarters and halves.. Each of the hour disks has connected thereto a gear which is geared to the clock work and the ratio of movement of the gears 3Q and pinion 26 is such that forty eight revolutions of the pinion take place during one revolution of each gear and its corresponding disk. A, j

Revolublymounted on each of the arboz's 27 are setting disks 31 each provided with a peripheral series. of V- shaped teeth 32. Pivoted on c-.lch of -the disks 28 is a pawl 33 having-a V-shaped offset end 34 arranged to engage between adjacent t'ceth 32 so that, when thus engaged the disks 31 will move with the disks 28. These pawls are constantly held in engagement with the disks 31V by means of springs 35 but the shape of the teeth and pawl ends is suchv that the disks `31 may be manually turned on' the disks 28. Adjacent each disk 28 is a pointer 36 which serves to indicate the time in the manner common in those clocks wherein a.

disk takes the place of the hands and a pointer is used instead of the usual hour.

circle. 'By this means it may be seen whether the clock work is set correctly. On each of the disks 31 is an arrow 37 and these arrows 'are used to set the-disks 31 to Athe desired hours for stopping and permitting the operation of the machine which is con` trolled `by"this device; this being accomplished by moving the disks 31 relative to the disks 28 until the arrows 37 point to the respective stopping and startinghonrs, the expressions stopping and starting being used hereinin the sense. of indicating that hour -at which it is desired that the ,machine shall cease to operate and that hour after whizh the machine may be operated respective y. 1 n

Mounted near each ofthe disks 31 is a'n insulating block 38 where'on is mounted a metallic plate 39 'carrying a binding screw 40.' Each of these plates is in contact with a spring contact arm 41 extending over the re` spective disk 31 and on each arm isa V- shaped projection 42. Extending upward from each-of the disks 3l is a pin 43 which revolves about the respective arbor 27 in a path intersecting the respective end 42 so that as the disks 31 are rotated these pins will contact with the contact arms 41.

block 44 whereto is secnreda'metallic plate 45 provided with the bindin screw 46 and carrying a contact arm 47. a' n the arbor 25v is fixed a double arm contact member 48` carrying at' the end of each arm a contact 49 whichcngages with the contact arm 47 as The spaces between suc the arbor rotates. It is to be particularly noted that the pins 43 and contacts 49 are at all times in electrical connection through the clock work and case 24. It is further to 'be noted that the pins 43 are angularly displaced about the arbors 27 with reference to the arrows 37 in such manner that When an arrow is opposite a pointer 36 the respective pin will contact with its arm end 42.

Finally the arrangement of the member 48 -is such that the engagement of the contact 47' with one of the contacts 49 takes place at thev time the arrow and pointer are exactly in line. It will be understood that the relatively slow movement of the disks31 would preclude accurate working of the instrument while the rapidly moving member 48 not only permits accurate timing but also breaks connection bet-Ween the parts 47 and 49 shortly after being made and thereby minimizes the 'consumption of any current which may be flowing through these parts.

The magnetic control for the switch used with the device will now be described. \Vithin the casing 20 is mounted'a metallic base 50 whereto is secured a pair of clectromagnets 51 having cores 52 which extend vslightly below the base 50 as at 53. Secured to the tops of these magnets is a plate 54 whereon are mounted bearings 55. Through these bearings extends a shaft 56 and on one endv is mounted a pair of spaced insulating blocks 132 whcrcon are supported binding posts 63. .The remaining ends of the magnet windings .are cach connected to av respective binding .post h v a wire. 64 (sce Fig'. 12). ()n the plate 50 is a binding post 65 which is connected directly tothe4 plate and, as the arm 57 is in electrical connection` with the plate through the shaft, bearings and other'parts,

-r this post (i5 isin connection with the arm,-

`the connection heilig lshown in the diagram Carri-cd by the shaft 56 is a pair` of arinai tures 67 disposed-at an angle, and so. arranged that when one of4 thesev armatures is attracted byv its magnet theremaining arma-' ture will'move away from itsmagnet.' Dei pending from the sha ft 5G is a latch lever 68 Mounted on the case 24 is an insulating projecting below the plate-'5,0 through a snitablc opening 69 and' having adjacent its lower end an opening 70. Mounted at the sides of the plate 50 and depending therefrom lare pairs of ears 71 whereto are pivotally conunected armatures 72 cach having at its free end a hook 73 Whichpis adapted to enter the 13u opening and releasably hold the lever 68 so that, when the magnets are denergizedthe lever cannot be shifted' by jarring the casing. These armatures are limited in their downward movement by suitable stops 74 carried by the plate 50.

In order to understand the operation of the device as thus far described it will now be necessary to refer to a portion of the wirin and 'its connections.

Wit in the casing 20 is an insulating block 75 whereon are mounted the binding posts 76. On this block 75' is a contact 77 which is connected by ,a wirey 78 with one of the posts 76, as in Fig. 12. Pivoted on the block 75 is a switch arm 79 which is adapted to engage the contact 77 when in one position. A wire 8O connects this switch arm with the contact 47. From each of the contact arms 41 extends a wire 81 which as shown in Fig. 12, connects to a respective binding post 63. This ap aratus is connected to the-battery B o the motor by wires 82 and 83 which leadfrom said battery to the res ective binding osts 76, the s'econ post-76 ing connected y a wire 84 with t e post 65, as shown in Fig. 12.

The part of the mechanism just described forms the time controlled' circuit closer and the electro-magnetic switch operatingede# vice and its operation -is as follows, it ing understood that the left. hand disk 31 (represented with its pin as an arm in the dia gram) is the stopping disk andthe right hand disk thestarting disk. It will be noted that the various wires, contacts, posts and other parts in -circuit with the respective disks or cdntrolled thereby -will be indicated when necessary to distinguish the same by adding the letters R andA L to the respective reference numerals. This being done yintracing the eircuits in thisspecification and in the wiring diagram only, the construction figures of the drawing having' the V'suilixes 'omitted as is also donefin the description of such 'gures.

T etwo disks are set, as hereinbeforedescri 'to the desredhours for starting and stopping, and for the sake of xaple suppose these hours to be 8f'a. m. andx '11 ni. respectively, these being the hours' siiown in ig. 1. Now assuming the present hour to be 7 a. m. the motor will be out ofv service. At 8 a. m. the pin 431i will Acontact with the arm 41L'and one of the contacts 49.wll engagefthe contact 47. lA circuit will" then be completed from the batteryB, through wire 82, post 76, `wire 78, contact 77, switch' 79,

wire 80, contact 47, cont-act 49, case 24, disk ein, pin 431 am 411., wire siL post' esL, wire 6411,' magnet 51L, wire 61 i, contact 60L, arm 57, connection 66, post 65, wire 84, post 76 and wire 83 back to the battery B. Thereupon the magnet 51L will be energized and the armatures 67L and 72L atshifted by an auxiliary device to tracted to the core 52L. Movement of the armature 72 will unlock the hitch lever 68 and permit movement of the arni 57 to the right. Thereupon this circuit will be broken by reason of movement of the contact 58 off of the contact GOL but the attraction of thc magnet is suicient to swing the arm 57 to such position that the contact 58 will engage tlie contact 60B, thus setting this part of the device for. the next ste At the same time the hook 73B engages t e arms 68 and holds it from moving to the right until properly released, the parts being left in the position shown in the diagram, Now these parts will remain in this position (unless be described) until 11-p. m. when the disk 31R will close its circuit in the same manner as before except that the current will flow' through a circuit established ,from the battery B through the wire 82,. post 76, wire 78, contact 77, switch 79, wire 8O, contact 47 contact 49, case 24, disk 31B, pin 4BR, arm

,41R-, wire SIR, post 631i, wire 64B, inc gnet Tn order to place the stopping of the mntnr under control of the owner or operator independently of `the ltime controlled circuit closer the contact 77 is-connected by a wire 85 with a usli button 86 located on the exterior of t e casing 20,",and the wire 81R is also connected to this push button by a wire 87. By this means electrical connection may be established at will from the; contact 77 to the wire 81R and the magnet 51B energized.

InV like manner the starting circuit can be closed' by means ofa push button 88 connected by a wire 89-'with the wire 81 and b .a wire 90 with the wire 81L. This push casing so that access thereto-can only be had b opening the casing thus preventing 57 to the starting position.

For the purpose of lighting'the disks at nighta lam 91 is fitted insi'dethe' casing adjacent sai disks and is connected to the Awire 8,2 by a wire 92. Adjacent the push button`86on the outside of the easing is a .spaced bearings 97. Journaled in the bearings is a shaft 98and to oneend of this utton, however is located within the.

' unaut orized persons from moying the arm iis ' a wire 113.

Ashaft 56 is mounted an arm 100 which has a suitable pin and Slot connection 101 so that movement of the shaft 56 causes similar movement of the shaft 98. :This shaft 98 is provided with a Hat central portion 102 whereto is secured a double armed lever 103 having forked bra nchcs forrnin extremities 104. Secured to the plate 96 1n the paths of these extremities 104 are Z-shaped contactslO cach provided with a binding screw 10G. One of the hearings 97 is provided with an extended foot'107 whereon is mounted a 'binding post 108. In order to bring out these features in the diagram the parts i104 and 106 have been indicated as switches and the lever 99 is replaced by a connecting bar 99. By means of the above construction the extremities'104 are at all times in electrical connection with the post 108.

In connection with this switch there is employed the usual magneto 109 which is connected to the timer 110 by a Wire 111. At 112 is a two point switch which has one of its points connected to the magneto by This switch is also connected to the engine frame by a wire 114, said frame being indicated at.115. The usual spark plugs 116 are employed and each of these spark plugs is connected to one of the timer contacts by a wire 117. Each of the wires 117 is connected to-a contact 106 by a wire-118 and the post 108 is connected to thc wire 114 by a. wire 119. Connected in on the wire 83 is the primary 120 of a spark coil, the secondary of said coil being indicated at 121. This secondary is connected to the remaining point`of the switch 112 by a wire 122 and to the wire 111 by a wire 123. It will nowbe plain from an inspection -of Fig. 12 that, with the parts as shown, current will flow from the magneto '109, through the wire"' 111, timer 110, wires 117, spark plugs 116, wire 114, sw'it'ch 112 and wire 113 back to the magneto. It will be obvious that the vmagneto may be cut out of .this

circuit and the secondary 1 21 cut in by shifting the switch 112. -When the parts are shifted to stopping p osxtion current willnot flow'- .th=rough the plugs because va short cir- 'cuit will be established from the magneto 109, through wire 11-1, wiress117, wires 118, contacts 106, arms 104, post 108, wire 119, wire 114, switch 112 and wire 113'back to the magneto 109. The secondary can f course take the place of the magneto as previously described.

For the purpose of controlling'the lighting circuit common to such. machines -a switch 124 is employed. The movement of this switch is controlled by an arm 125 operated by the lever 100. This switch is con- 'nected by 'a wire 126to the wire 82and by a wire- 127 .to the lamps 128. Fromthese lamps extends a'wire 129 which is connectare. mounted the meshin .segmental ed to the wire 83. The switch 124 is so arranged that when the parts are in starting position the switch is closed and the lamps are lighted unless cut out by the manually operable switch 130.

When the parts are in the position shown tral position so that the motor is thrown out-'of connection with the driving wheels the following apparatus is employed. At 137 is indicated the change gear casing con'- tuining the gearing/138. Certain of the v gears are shiftable in the usual manner by the rod 139.. Mounted on the casing 137 is a pair of magnets 140 which are precisely I,imilar in all respects with the magnets 51 and are similarly equipped. These magnets 140 are. connected in multiple with the magnets 51 by wires 141 und 142 connecting respectively to the wires 81L and 81R. The' magnets 140 are also connected to the wire 83 by a wire 143 and are provided with an arm 144 corresponding to the arm 100. By reason of the identity of construction this arm 144 will move in unison with the arm 100. Mounted in suitable bearings 145 is a rock shaft 146 carrying the rock arms 147 and 148. The arm 147 is connected to the arm 144 and the arm 148 has coni @ted thereto a link 149. Journaled withinL the casing 137 is a pair of shafts 150 Whereon ears 151. One of these shafts as secured t ereto an arm 152 which is connected to the lower end of the link 149 and each of the gears is provided with an arm 153 at the end of w ich is a lug 154 adapted to enter an opening 155 in the-rod 13 4 In ythe operation of this part of the device it will be noted that, 4since the arms 100 and 144 work in 'unison the lugs 154 will be moved to engage in the opening 155 at thelll time the current through the spark plug is shortcircuited so that upon moving the rod 139 to neutral Vposition (see Fig. 7) the lugs will enter said opening and lock the rod from movement.,

The different opera-tions having been described in detail it is not deemed necessary to again describe the same but it is desired to call attention to thefact that by means 'of this apparatus control is provided for the sparking arrangement, the lighting system, and the gear shifting mechanism.

There has thus been provided a simple and efficient device of the kind described, and of the character specified. c

It 'will be obvious that many minor changes may be made in the form and construction of this invention without departing from the material principles thereof. It is not therefore desired to confine the invention to the exact form herein shown and described, but it is wished to include all such as come properly within the scope claimed.

Having thus described the inventiomwhat is claimed as new, is

1. In a time-controlled circuit closer, a

clock work mechanism including a pair of revolublc arbors in electrical communication, disks having contact members thereon mounted on said arbors and arrangedto rotate therewith, stationaryl contact members located in the paths of movement of the contact members on the disk, each of said stationary contact members being connected to one end of an open circuit, the disks being adjustable on the arbors so that the time of contact between the contact members thereon and the stationary contact members may be varied, a third arbor mounted on the clock-work mechanism and rotatable with the first mentioned. arbors, said third arbor having a pair of contacts thereon in electrical communication with the contacts on the aforementioned arbors, a wire common to..

both the aforementioned circuits and-forming the other end -of each and a contact member on the end of said wire mounted in the path of movement of the contact on the third arbor, the contacts on the third arbor being arranged to en age the adjacent stationary 'contact mem er upon the engagement of the contacts on Athe first mentioned arbors with the adjacent stationary contact members.

2. In a time-controlled circuit closer, a clock-work mechanism including a pair of revoluble arbors in electrical communication, disks hav' ig contact members thereon Vmounted on sai arbors and arranged to rotate therewith, stationary contact members located in the paths of movement ofA Ithe mechanism and rotatable with the iirst menor rotating the arbors and a 4third arbor mounted on the clock-work tioned arbors, said third arbor having a pair of contacts thereon in electrical communi cation with the contacts on the aforementioned arbors, a wire common to both the aforementioned 'circuits and forming the other end of each, and a contact member on the end of said wire mounted in the path of movement of the contact onA the third arbor, the contacts on the third arbor being arranged to engage the adjacent stationary contact member upon the engagement of the contacts on the rst mentioned arbors with the adjacent stationary contact members.

3. In a. circuit closer of the class described, a pair of spaced arbors, a air of -disks mounted on said arbors and avm time indicia thereon, other disks mounted on said arbors and revoluble with relation to the first disks, means tohold said disk in adjusted relation, a contact member fixed to each of the second disks, said members being in electrical communication, stationary contact members in the paths of the'.1ast mentioned contact members, a. Vthird arbor, contact members carried thereby, a stationary contact member in the path of move-- ment of the contact on the third arbor and a clockwork mechanism for rotatin all of said arbors sothat the contact mein rs on the first mentioned arbor will engage the adjacent stationary contact and one of the contact members on the third arbor will en gage the` adjacent stationary contact simultaneously with the engagement of either of the contact members on the rst arbors withpaths oi? the last mentioned` members, a third arbor, a contact arm carried bythe third arbor, a stationary contact in the pathV of said arm, said last mentioned stationary contact bein adapted for connection to a line wire an the `remaining stationarycontacts bein ada ted for connection to. branch wires,l an a c k work for. rotating said arborS.

In testimony whereof, I aiiix my signature, in the presence of two witnesses.

LESTER H. SPARKS.4 Witieve: W V nniimivna,

En A. Trentini',

"disks, stationary contact members in the 

